Rehab Center improves 12 Step Volunteer Program through Strategic Partnership with Communities for Recovery

AUSTIN, Texas, April 12, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Austin Recovery, the largest and most affordable drug and alcohol treatment center in Texas, is finalizing a significant expansion to its partnership with Communities for Recovery, an organization that specializes in the orientation, training, and management of Peer Recovery Support and Peer Recovery Coach volunteers.  Starting May 1, 2011, Communities for Recovery will be screening, orientating, training, assigning and managing current and new Austin Recovery 12 Step and recovery related volunteers.  As a result, there will be new sobriety, screening and monitoring requirements associated with the organization's volunteer programs.

Volunteers bringing services not directly related to recovery such as financial planning, yoga and administrative project assistance will continue to be supervised by Austin Recovery's Volunteer Manager, Jane Bohls. Ms. Bohls attests that service work plays a factor in people staying sober. Said Bohls, "Austin Recovery's volunteer program provides a huge resource to the recovery community." She continued, "The recovery community has also provided us with a huge resource of 12 Step volunteers to bring in a message of experience, strength and hope to our clients. The partnership with Communities for Recovery is a win-win situation for managing this process so that we can bring the best programming for our treatment setting, while still keeping the base of volunteers in the recovery community engaged."

Austin Recovery, established in 1967, also plans to re-engage its vast network of alumni to provide more networking opportunities for alumni to access as soon as they leave treatment.

Austin Recovery's CEO, Jonathan Ross said today, "Changes to our volunteer program represent a more structured and professional approach to ensure that our clients receive services consistent with the Austin Recovery treatment philosophy."  Mr. Ross added, "Our primary responsibility to the clients of Austin Recovery is to provide safe and appropriate care through their early, more vulnerable stages of recovery."

Communities for Recovery's Executive Director, Michaelanne Hurst added, "Chemical addiction is a chronic disease, a disease that requires a lifetime of personal commitment in managing our recovery process.  This partnership with Austin Recovery not only provides even more opportunities for people in recovery to volunteer and give back, but helps to facilitate the vital connections needed, during and post-treatment, for persons to maintain, enhance and grow their recovery over their lifetime."

About Austin Recovery

Austin Recovery http://www.austinrecovery.org is the largest drug and alcohol addiction treatment center in Texas. We are CARF-accredited and provide effective and compassionate chemical dependency treatment at very affordable rates. Our transformational treatment model brings about in-depth cognitive, behavioral and spiritual changes essential for overcoming addiction. We offer a number of programs including medical detox and separate men's and women's campuses for 30-day and 90+ day programs. Our Family House program allows women to bring two children under the age of six with them to treatment. Austin Recovery also offers free intervention classes, outpatient services, alumni support, family programs, aftercare and community education. For more information, please contact us at 512-697-8500 or contact the Austin Recovery Admissions Office at 512-697-8600 or 800-373-2081. www.AustinRecovery.org

About Communities for Recovery

Communities for Recovery (CforR) http://www.cforr.org is the only non-profit Recovery Community Organization in Central Texas specializing in Volunteer Peer Recovery Support Services and Peer Recovery Coaching specific for people seeking recovery from chemical addiction and dual disorders.  With over 136 Peer Support Volunteers and 5 Peer Recovery Coaches, CforR offers a myriad of recovery programs that include 12 Step-Back to Basics, 12 Step-Dual Disorders Recovery Achievers, Cross-Talk, Family Cross-Talk and Peer Recovery Coaching.  The volunteer model of Peer Recovery Support provides an authentic way of giving back, which is paramount to people living life in long-term recovery.  CforR serves the volunteer in support of their long-term recovery by providing them organized volunteer opportunities at over 13 chemical addiction and dual disorder treatment, housing and drug court programs in Travis County.  For more information on how to become a Peer Support Volunteer, or to learn more about our recovery programs and services please contact us at 512-758-7686 or contact our Volunteer Program Coordinator directly at 512-758-7682. www.CforR.org

CONTACT: Ramona Cruz-Peters
Marketing and Communications Manager
Austin Recovery
512-697-8506
rcruzpeters@austinrecovery.org

SOURCE Austin Recovery